Counterbalanced x-ray tube control stand



COUNTERBALANCED X-RAY TUBE CONTROL STAND Filed Oct. 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l N v E N TO R ill-795D 5/70/1/ '7 L BY 5 5 7 3 ATTORNEY COUNTERBALANCED X-RAY TUBE CONTROL STAND Filed Oct. 14, 1.938 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fill-ZED L97M0/V.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE COUNTERBALANCED X-RAY TUBE. C'ON- TROL STAND Application October 14, 1938, Serial No. 234,891

5 Claims.

The present invention, relates to X-ray apparatus and particularly to what is known in the art as fluoroscopic apparatus. Apparatus of this type has long been employed by the roentgenolo- 5 gist in the making of fluoroscopic examinations as well as the taking of radiographic pictures, when desired.

Such apparatus is normally employed in connection with a patient support, such as an examination table or the like, upon which the patient reclines. During the making of a fluoroscopic examination with the patient in a reclined position, the X-ray tube is usually disposed beneath the patient support with the fluorescent screen above the support and the patient so that a shadowgraph is produced upon the fluorescent screen upon energization of the Y-ray tube.

Also, when it is desired to take a radiographic exposure the patient support is usually provided with a cassette beneath the patient for housing a photographic film. The X-ray tube is then moved to a position above the patient so that upon excitation thereof, an image of the desired 25 portion of the patients anatomy is produced upon the film. Inasmuch as the fluoroscopic apparatus is usually pivotally supported, both fluoroscopic and radiographic examinations may also be made of the patient While in an erect position.

Heretofore the high potential electrical energy for energizing the X-ray tube has been supplied by a remotely disposed high voltage transformer which is connected to; the terminals of the X -ra-ytube by'high voltage cables. In order to make the apparatus portable, that is to say, readily movable upon, the floor, it has been suggested to mount the high voltage transformer upon a base which supports the upright column or standard.

Since the; fluoroscopic apparatus, which is of considerableweight, must be movable in a ver-. that position in order to facilitate examination of the patient, the apparatus must accordingly be counterbalanced. Thus the entire weight of the high voltage transformer, together with the fluoroscopic apparatus and the counterweights, has heretofore been quite bulky and of consider-. able total weight, making it diificult to readily move about the floor.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an X-ray apparatus of compact form whereby the total weight of the apparatus is substantially reduced so as to facilitate, its movement about the floon.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an X-ray apparatus for the making of fluoroscopic or radiographic examinations wherein the X-ray instrumentalities are carried by a support movable vertically of a standard with the standard housing all of the necessary controls and the high voltage transformer for supplying energy to the X-ray tube, which transformer is movable vertically of the standard for counterbalancing the X-ray apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an X-ray apparatus for the making of fluoroscopic and radiographic examinations wherein a substantially rectangular standard is provided, one side of which is provided with all the necessary controls, and a fluoroscopic apparatus comprising the X-ray tube and a fluorescent screen is slidably mounted upon the standard and counterbalanced by the high voltage transformer which supplies high potential electrical energy to the X-ray tube and which is housed within the standard and slid'ably movable therein.

Still. further objects of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings 9 wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an X-ray apparatus. constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig, 2 is an end. View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is. a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the standard which forms a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with portions of such apparatus broken away to better illustrate the same.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a tube stand is shown comprising, a vertically disposed substantially rectangular housing or standard 5 mounted upon a base which may consist 01, a. pair of shafts 6, the latter of which are provided withv suitable rollers or casters 1. These rollers or casters 1 may rest upon the floor or, as

/ shown, may engage guide rails or tracks 8 for the, purpose of moving the tube stand longitudinally oi a patient support 9 (Fig. 2), for the taking of radiographic exposures or the making of fluoroscopic examinations of a patient, when positioned upon the patient support 9.

Thus, by virtue of the. rollers or casters 1 the tube, stand is longitudinally movable relative to the patient support 9 and in addition it is transversely movable with respect thereto upon the shafts 6 of the base and is maintained in a desired transverse position by operation of a footoperated lock or catch II].

The tube stand or standard is provided with a support which, as shown, comprises a laterally extending bracket I2 to which is pivotally connected an angularly disposed member I3 with the bracket I2 being movable vertically of the housing 5 upon a guideway or track II. member I3 in turn has an arm I4 pivotally connected thereto which carries at one extremity a fluorescent screen I5 and an X-ray tube unit I6 at its other extremity. Rotation of the arm I4 about its pivot accordingly disposes the X-ray tube unit I6 below the table with the fluorescent screen I5 above, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, or the X-ray tube unit may be disposed above the patient support 9 with the screen I5 below.

However, the fluorescent screen I5 is pivotally connected to the extremity of the arm I4 by a bifurcated member H, which latter is pivotally connected at I8 tothe extremity of the arm I4. When the X-ray tube unit I6 is disposed above the table top, the fluorescent screen, while below the level thereof, can be moved in a position parallel to the direction of movement of the tube stand upon the guide rails B and thus out of operating range.

The screen may be retained in this latter position by operation of a suitable lock I9 and in a similar manner the arm I4 is maintained in position by a lock'20, as is the X-ray tube unit by a lock 22.

Electrical energy for the X-ray tube housed within the X-ray tube unit I6 is supplied by a high voltage transformer 23 disposed interiorly of the rectangular standard 5. A pair of high voltage cables 24 extend from the transformer and pass through the end of the arm I4 to the tube unit I6. These cables are of the grounded metallic sheathed type so as to prevent accidental shocks resulting to a patient or operator and have sufficient slack to allow for movement of the X-ray tube unit IE to any desired position above or below the patient support 9 without placing undue strain upon the cables such as would break or injure the insulation.

To facilitate vertical movement of the fluoroscopic apparatus, comprising the X-ray tube unit I6 and fluorescent screen I5, the laterally extending bracket I2, in turn supporting the angularly disposed member I3 and the arm I4, forming a part of the support for the fluoroscopic apparatus, is connected by means of suitable supporting cables 25 passing over a pair of pulleys or sheaves 26 and connected'to the high voltage transformer 23.

The transformer is providedwith suitable rollers 21 which engage two sides of a track or guide rail 28 so that the transformer 23 thus moves vertically of the interior of the standard 5 in opposition to movements of the fluoroscopic apparatus. Also in order to accomplish compactness of the apparatus, as well as facilitate operation thereof by the operator, one side of the rectangular standard 5, as can be seen from Figs. 1 and 3, supports all the necessary control knobs, switches and meters which project through the wall to the exterior of the standard.

By this construction the roentgenologist during the diagnostic examination is thus in position to readily manipulate the entire apparatus, including the fluoroscopic apparatus, as well as the necessary control knobs which thus limits the electrical energy supplied by the high voltage transformer 23 to the X-ray tube unit I6.

This

Inasmuch as the transformer 23, as above noted. is slidably movable vertically of the interior of the standard 5, suflicient slack is naturally provided in the cables, such as shown at 29, extending from the various controls at the side of the standard to the transformer.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that an X-ray apparatus is herein provided which is exceptionally compact in that all of the essential controls, as well as the high voltage transformer for supplying the electrical energy to the X-ray tube, are enclosed within a standard. Moreover, to eliminate the additional weight of a counterbalance for the fluoroscopic apparatus comprising the X-ray tube unit and the fluoroscopic screen and at the same time render the apparatus portable by having the high voltage transformer an integral part of the entire apparatus, the high voltage transformer is movable vertically of the standard and is mechanically connected to the fluoroscopic unit, thus serving the dual purpose of supplying electrical energy to the X-ray tube and counterbalancing movements of the fluoroscopic apparatus.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been herein shown and described, other modifications thereof may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An X-ray apparatus for making radiographic and fluoroscopic examinations comprisa high tension transformer disposed interiorly of said housing and movable with the latter upon said base for supplying electrical energy to said X-ray tube unit, and insulated high tension cables extending from said interiorly disposed high tension transformer to said exteriorly disposed X-ray tube.

2. An X-ray apparatus for making radiographic and fluoroscopic examinations comprising a movable base, a housing mounted upon said base and adjustable transversely of the latter and provided with a vertically disposed guideway, a support slidably mounted upon said guideway for vertical movement relative thereto, a pivoted member secured to said support and disposed exteriorly of said housing, an X-ray tube unit pivotally supported at one end of said pivoted member and a fluorescent screen pivotally secured to the other end of said pivoted member, control means for said X-ray tube unit mounted interiorly of said housing and projecting through the wall thereof to facilitate manipulation of said control means from the exterior of said housing, a high tension transformer disposed interiorly of said housing and movable with the latter upon said base for supplying electrical energy to said X-ray tube unit, and insulated high tension cables extending from said interiorly disposed high tension transformer to said exteriorly disposed X-ray tube.

3. An X-ray apparatus for making radiographic and fluoroscopic examinations comprising a housing mounted upon the base, a support slidably mounted for longitudinal movement upon said housing, a pivoted member secured to said support, an X-ray tube unit and a fluorescent screen supported by said pivoted member and a high tension transformer slidable on said housing and mechanically connected to said support for supplying electrical energy to said X-ray tube unit and for counterbalancing said support and parts carried thereby in all longitudinal positions thereof relative to said housing.

4. An X-ray apparatus for making radiographic and fluoroscopic examinations comprising a housing mounted upon a base, a support slidably mounted for longitudinal movement upon said housing, a pivoted member secured to said support, an X-ray tube unit and a fluorescent screen supported by said pivoted member, and a high tension transformer disposed interiorly of said housing and slidable longitudinally thereof for supplying electrical energy to said X-ray tube unit and mechanically connected to said support for counterbalancing the latter and parts carried thereby in all its longitudinal positions relative to said housing.

5. An X-ray apparatus for making radiographic and fluoroscopic examinations comprising a housing mounted upon a base, a support slidably mounted for longitudinal movement upon said housing, a pivoted member secured to said support, a fluorescent screen at one end and an X-ray tube unit at the other end of said pivoted member, control means for said X-ray tube unit mounted interiorly of said housing and projecting through the wall thereof to facilitate manipulation of said control means from the exterior of said housing, and a high tension transformer disposed interiorly of said housing and movable longitudinally thereof for supplying electrical energy to said X-ray tube unit and mechanically connected to said support for counterbalancing the latter and parts carried thereby in all its longitudinal positions relative to said housing,

ALFRED SIMON. 

